Final Report Quakertown-Stony Creek Rail Restoration Study submitted to the Bucks County Planning Commission submitted by Parsons Brinckerhoff Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in association with Norman Day Associates KKO and Associates July 2000 Q UAKERTOWN-STONY C REEK R AIL R ESTORATION S TUDY Final Report TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A. Study Overview..................................................................................................................................................... i B. Development of Preliminary Alternatives.............................................................................................................vi C. Selection of the Lead Alternative .........................................................................................................................ix D. Refinement of the Lead Alternative......................................................................................................................ix E. Evaluation of the Lead Alternative ......................................................................................................................xv F. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................ xvii FINAL REPORT 1. Study Overview.................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Study Approach............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Study Organization.......................................................................................................................................... 2 2. Existing and Future Conditions in the Corridor .................................................................................................... 2 2.1. Location and Limits of the Study Corridor ....................................................................................................... 2 2.2. Existing Study Corridor Conditions.................................................................................................................. 5 2.3. Future Study Corridor Conditions.................................................................................................................. 40 2.4. Preliminary Station Locations........................................................................................................................ 46 3. Development of Preliminary Alternatives........................................................................................................... 49 3.1. Guidelines for Preliminary Alternatives Development ................................................................................... 49 3.2. Development of Preliminary Alternatives....................................................................................................... 49 3.3. Definition of Preliminary Alternatives............................................................................................................. 56 3.4. Initial Public Meetings.................................................................................................................................... 62 4. Screening of Preliminary Alternatives................................................................................................................ 62 4.1. Operating Analysis ........................................................................................................................................ 62 4.2. Engineering Requirements and Operating Characteristics ........................................................................... 69 4.3. Cost Assessment of Alternatives................................................................................................................... 77 5. Initial Patronage Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 85 6. Selection of the Lead Alternative ....................................................................................................................... 89 7. Refinement of the Lead Alternative.................................................................................................................... 90 7.1. Definition of the Lead Alternative................................................................................................................... 90 7.2. Refinement of the Lead Alternative ............................................................................................................... 92 8. Evaluation of the Lead Alternative ................................................................................................................... 111 8.1. Follow-Up Public Meetings.......................................................................................................................... 112 8.2. Determination of Feasibility ......................................................................................................................... 113 8.3. Next Steps................................................................................................................................................... 113 9. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................... 114 PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF in association with Norman Day Associates and KKO & Associates QUAKERTOWN-STONY CREEK RAIL RESTORATION STUDY Final Report TABLE OF FIGURES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Figure A. Study Corridor Boundaries................................................................................................................................iii Figure B. Alternative 2 Alignment and Stops ....................................................................................................................xi Figure C. Alternatives 2A & 2B Alignment and Stops ..................................................................................................... xiii FINAL REPORT Figure 1. Study Corridor Boundaries ................................................................................................................................ 4 Figure 2. Study Corridor Demographics—1997 Estimated Population............................................................................. 7 Figure 3. Study Corridor Demographics—1997 Estimated Households......................................................................... 10 Figure 4. Study Corridor Demographics—1997 Estimated Employment........................................................................ 13 Figure 5A. Existing Land Use ......................................................................................................................................... 15 Figure 5B. Existing Land Use ......................................................................................................................................... 16 Figure 6A. 1993-1998 Proposed Residential Dwelling Units .......................................................................................... 21 Figure 6B. 1993-1998 Proposed Residential Development Acreage ............................................................................. 22 Figure 6C. 1993-1998 Proposed Non-Residential Development Square Footage......................................................... 23 Figure 6D. 1993-1998 Proposed Residential Development Acreage ............................................................................. 24 Figure 7. 1995 Undeveloped Land.................................................................................................................................. 27 Figure 8A. Current Zoning .............................................................................................................................................. 29 Figure 8B. Current Zoning .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Figure 9. Study Corridor Transit Services....................................................................................................................... 33 Figure 10. Study Corridor Railroad Facilities .................................................................................................................. 35 Figure 11. SEPTA Allentown/Bethlehem Line Weekday Ridership ................................................................................ 36 Figure 12. Study Corridor Demographics—2020 Projected Population.......................................................................... 43 Figure 13. Study Corridor Demographics—2020 Projected Households........................................................................ 44 Figure 14. Study Corridor Demographics—2020 Projected Employment....................................................................... 45 Figure 15. Preliminary Study Corridor Station Locations................................................................................................ 48 Figure 16. Lansdale Track Alignments ........................................................................................................................... 55 Figure 17. Norristown Track Alignments........................................................................................................................